Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-02-04
miscellaneous
TRAVELS In EUROPE.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. 20, 1887

WASHINGTON, ID. g., Jan. 20, 1887.
My Dcar Sue About two hours after
leaving Edinburgh we found ourselves at
Melrese, little towR on the Tweed, which
owes its existence TO the Abbey from which
ii takes its name The Abbey itself Is a
beautiful ruin, and must have been all that
Is claimed for it--one Of the most superb
structures ever reared in Scotland. II was
built in the 18th century, founded by David
LIST, and dedicated to tho Virgin Mary. The
carvings of wreathes Of flowers and foliage
still give evidence of former beauty, and II
must have been almost u perfect specimen
of Gothic architecture. Here we stood by
the tomb of Alexander IL, and saw the spot
where WAS deposited the heart of Robert
Bruce Many Of the Douglas family were
also buried here. 1t seems u pity that the
names of the architects OF these magnificent
old ruins arc not in some way rendered i'm
perishabe. Why should not the name OF
its designer he associated with that Of Mel
rose, as well as that Of Scott who only
wrote of it? As loitya genius was required
for the enc work as for the other--it il
only difference of kind not Of degree |
will not stop 10 give you the dimensions Of
any of these structures. You can find all
that In any guide book, and none of them
They are all tall enough to make one feel
small, and old enough to make Americans
feel decidedly young although upon the
principle that whatever belongs TO Great
britain belongs 10 u.s. by right Of inhcri.
lance, we are at liberty 20 feel either proud
or ashamed Of what we find over there, as
may best suit us.
One thing always impresses me in these
old Abbeys, and that is the intensity Of the
bettef which led TO the erection of these mag
niiicent structures, how sincerely these dew
Otees must have felt that they were in the
right Surely that was not an age OF doubt
or half hearted faith, at least not in its out
ward workings. We rested fer awhile upon
the same scat where Sir Walter Scott de-
veloped some Of his best plots, but finding
we were not similarly affected, grew dis
couraged and drove TO Abbotsiord, the home
Of Sir Walter, three miles west of Melrese
Life Is not long enough for me to attempt
10 describe all that we saw there, or might
have seen, had cur guide given us time. As
soon as we alighted we were admitted into
little ante.ro0m whence, after depositing
our entrance fees, we were marshalsd
through that portion OF the elegant man
sion open to visitors First came the long
hall whose walls were covered with ancient
armor Of all descriptions and every kind Of
antique relic There was the identical chest,
procured in Italy by Sir Walter, which
proved the tomb Of the young bride who,
In game of hide.and. seek, secrcted herself
within it, and, the spring lsck swapping,
was not discovered for months AFTER when
all search had been given up by the heart
broken husband and friends. That and the
mummy.like images Of types Of certain saw
he III "
we gladly went into the dining room 10 ad-
mire its beautifully carved oak roof and
some Of its pictures. But what was our
horror to see there a painting OF the "head
of Mary Of Scots on a charger" like that Of
John the Baptist, painted the day after her
execution II was really horrible, after
having seen the beautiful face and form Of
the unfortunate Queen in every place we
had visited in Scotland, until We had a sort
Of plying friendship for her, 10 be suddenly
confronted with this same face In this ghastly
view, and that too In dining room, aud
that Of such a man as Sir Walter Scott -
We could only meekly dlsapprove by say.
Ing that IT was not en- appctizing picture,
and seemed inappropriate, unless the disl--
but here Frank interrupted with one Of his
wicked puns and said II am not sure IL Is
inappropriate, since | have always heard
that Mary died 0ame." We classed such
levity with capital Offences and proceeded to
the drawing room, library with Its 10000
valuable books, and 10 the study, charm.
ing room with gallery running nearly
round 1t, communicating by private stair.
way with the bedroom. Here was Sir Wal.
tsr's writing table and feathers seated chair,
tho last suit Of clothes he wore, and many
testimonials 10 his genius in the form Of
gifts from crowned heads, and these, togeth-
or with pictures and bust Of him, made
everything so real that VIC should not have
been surprised had he, himself, stepped out
and asked US 10 be seated-which the guide
did not The latter, however, had said bis
lesson by this time and brought us round 10
the starting point, where another party
awaited his attention, 50 there was nothing
for us ~ do but 10 30.
The exterior Of the building Is not re-.
markable in any way. IL was originally a
simple villa, added " from time 10 time, &c.
cordlng TO the means and fancies Of the
poet, who Impoverished himself finally in
bringing IL 10 It's present condition. IL Is
now the property Of his grand daughter,
Mrs Hope Scott, who resides there u por-
ton OF the year.
have recently read In New York paper
that the loss Of propricty and temporary alb
erratl0n Of mind, frem which Sir Walter
suffered, were sent upon him because Of his
sacrilege IN apPropriating 10 personal and
secular uses what had once been conse.
Grated Abbey, devoted 10 religious purposes,
and that, as further token Of the Divine
dlspleasure, his family had become extinct.
This was said directly in reference 10 Alb.
botsford, but there arc no evidences there 10
bear out such an opinion, no ruins, while
everything indicates II 10 have been villa,
or farm house, improved from time 10 time,
as we were told. The guide, too, certainly
believed strongly In the present existence
Of Mrs. Hope Scott, the grand. daughter,
who seems 70 have married one Of the same
name, and showed us her picture. just In
front of the drawing.rOom windows we no.